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r- TIseCanadian Champion, Fnday, August 18, 2000 - 5 iBurlington Airpark owner's zest for life remembered r By IRENE GENTLE The Champi on On Saturday, Multon's Victor Kovacbik received an emotional send-off tbat mimtic- ked the way be bad lived - bard. fast and fervent. He died July 19 [rom tbe complica- tions of a stroke aI Mi ss i ssa ug a General Hospital. His family paid tbeir respects witb a public memorial aI Victor Kovachik bis betovcd Bell Scbool Line business, the Burlington Airpark. The memorial included several low- ranging fly-bys, a tribute by rocker and pilot Tom Cochrane and the release of' more tban a dozen dove-wbite baltoons up 10 the beavens. "He'd bave toved Ibis. He'd be tbritted we're doing il up in sucb a way," said his daugbter Patti McTavisb. "He was a pri- vate man but il was anylbing for tlying." Prior 10 bis death aI age 76, Mr. Kovacbik carved out a life bursting witb love, starting wiîb bis wife Gwendolyn. Tbe pair met in Milton and sbared 53 years of marriage along witb eigbî chil- dren, 14 grandcbjîdren, two great-grand- hbldren and flying. Boru in thse former Czecboslovakia, Mr. Kovacbik immigrated to Canada ai age 3. As an adult, be bappily toiled as an air- plane mecbanic aI Lester B. Pearson air- port before deciding 10 go on bis own witb tbe Burlinglon Airpark. He and Gwendolyn sbared in tIsaI enter- prise, and today Ibeir cbildren bave a hand in itas well. For Mr. Kovachik, the high-ilying busi- ness was a drearn corne truc. "Aviation, aside from his [amily, was bis whole fle." said Ms McTavish. "That was bis drearu, to start the business and watch it grow Sbortly befote bis death, Mr. Kovacbik was stili plugging away at il, purchasing more land to expand the runways. "He would flot retire. he pushed on ahead," said Ms McTavish. "He had a great fle. He did everything he wanted to do. He lived the way he wanted to live." And he had a knack of propelling Ibose who lovcd him 10 reacb for the sky. "Just go oui and live your dream. Don't deny yourself," said Ms McTavish. -Just go out and do what you wanl 10 do. If you're in the wrong career. change il. Do what your heart tetls you to." A private memorial for family also took place. But the public memorial was a splashier affair, designed to capture the tender but advenluresome spirit of the otan wbo inspired il. It featured Mr. Cocbrane, wbo bas an airplane at the airpark, singing the old Dan Fogelberg song Leader of the Band. "My dad didn't understand the rock and roll scene and used to tease Tom." recalled Ms McTavisb. "He'd calI bim an 'artist. He didn't understand it and didn'l want 10."1 Former deputy Minister of bousing Milt Farrow also muade a speecb ai tbe event, along witb several family members. "He bad no fear wben il came 10o busi- ness and taking risks. He bad an enîbusi- asm," said Ms McTavisb of ber fatber. "We're very sad 10 loac bir." Photo by IAN ROSS Carolyn Kovachik-MacNel remembers her father, Victor Kovachik, who was the founder of the Burlington Airpark. Swipe a Save AI < Mu, tom Sulus And Save Tur UR brd AI . ro specifteri prociticis or services aI participaling